pisolite

American  

[pis-uh-lahyt, piz-, pahy-suh-] / ˈpɪs əˌlaɪt, ˈpɪz-, ˈpaɪ sə- /

noun

1. limestone composed of rounded concretions about the size of a pea.

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pisolite British  

/ ˌpaɪsəʊˈlɪtɪk, ˈpaɪsəʊˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a sedimentary rock, commonly a limestone, consisting of pea-sized concentric formations ( pisoliths ) within a fine matrix

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Other Word Forms

• pisolitic adjective

Etymology

Origin of pisolite

1700–10; < New Latin pisolithus < Greek píso ( s ) pea ¹ + líthos -lite

Example Sentences

The Bunter-sandstein consists of various-coloured sandstones, dolomites, and red clays, with some beds, especially in the Hartz, of calcareous pisolite or roe- stone, the whole sometimes attaining a thickness of more than 1000 feet.

From The Student's Elements of Geology by Lyell, Charles, Sir

The thermal springs of Carlsbad deposit spherical concretions of aragonite, forming masses known as pisolite or Sprudelstein.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 3 "Apollodorus" to "Aral" by Various